More indoor spaces opening in Vancouver to ensure people without homes have shelter as the first snowy, cold snap of the season looms

Vancouver is opening more indoor spaces to ensure people without homes have shelter as the first snowy, cold snap of the season looms.

The city says warming centres will be open at three locations, the Powell Street Getaway, Vancouver Aquatic Centre and Creekside Community Centre, starting today and continuing until next Wednesday.

The statement says the centres are activated as a life-saving measure for people sleeping outside during the winter months.

Vancouver also says it has more than 100 vehicles, three-thousand tonnes of salt and hundreds of staff ready for deployment to keep city streets, sidewalks and bike lanes clear of snow and ice.

An Environment Canada Special Weather Statement has been issued for much of the Lower Mainland, warning of potential snow accumulations this weekend.